A tour of common caudex plants, from ponytail palm to rock fig

Planet Desert updated its overview of caudex plants in May 2026, and it works well as a first map of the hobby. A caudex is a swollen stem or root above ground that stores water; the plants are also called caudiciform or pachycaul, and most come from arid parts of Mexico or Africa.

The list includes Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm), Jatropha podagrica (Buddha belly), Pachypodium lamerei (Madagascar palm), Euphorbia stellata (Medusa's head), Ficus petiolaris (rock fig, about 2 m indoors and good for bonsai), Fockea edulis and Adenium obesum, which the page flags as poisonous.

General care is simple: water regularly in spring and summer but let the soil dry between waterings, water minimally in winter, use well-drained sandy soil or cactus mix, give full sun, and remember most are not frost hardy. Seeds are ideal for propagation.

The FAQ covers a soft adenium caudex, which can come from water loss, shipping damage, fungal root attack, compacted soil or an oversized pot. Recovery steps are removing leaves and flowers, cutting off rotten roots, dusting cuts with lime powder and drying the plant in the sun for at least two days.

I like this as a starting point for choosing what to grow next.

Source: Planet Desert